Surface stimulation to determine needle direction and angle when performing an infraclavicular brachial plexus block.

The infraclavicular approach to the brachial plexus is a safe and reliable technique for surgery of the upper extremity. When performing the block, the anesthesiologist must appreciate three variables: needle direction, needle angle to the chest wall, and needle depth. Surface stimulation is an easy technique that can reliably predict both needle direction and needle angle.

Performance and complications associated with the synchromed 10-ml infusion pump for intrathecal baclofen administration in children.

Object: The objectives of this multicenter study were to monitor the performance of a 10-ml pump infusing intrathecal baclofen to treat 100 children with cerebral spasticity, to monitor complications associated with the pump, and to correlate pump-related complications with body habitus.

Methods: Age at implantation of the pump ranged from 1.4 to 16.

GMFM 1 year after continuous intrathecal baclofen infusion.

The purpose of this study was to assess whether there is an improvement in motor function in persons with cerebral palsy (CP) who have had a reduction of muscle tone by continuous intrathecal baclofen infusion. This was a prospective, open label, non-blinded case series without a control group, conducted at multiple centres. There were 31 subjects, aged 4-29 years.

Occipital neuralgia and twelfth nerve palsy from a chondromyxoid fibroma.

The purpose of this case report is to record the unusual combination of occipital neuralgia and hypoglossal nerve palsy causing dysarthria, dysphagia, and unilateral weakness of tongue protrusion, with no other neurological findings. The cause was a discrete tumor in the clivus and the right occipital condyle. Following surgical resection of the tumor, dysarthria and dysphagia persisted.

Hip status in cerebral palsy after one year of continuous intrathecal baclofen infusion.

The purpose of this study was to assess whether reduction of muscle tone by continuous intrathecal baclofen infusion affects the progression of hip subluxation in persons with cerebral palsy. This prospective, open-label, case series was conducted at multiple specialty referral centers. There were 33 subjects, ages 4 to 31 years.